Jose Mourinho has told Yahoo-Eurosport that while he respects “almost all” managers, it is very difficult to be genuine friends with his rivals.
The job of a Premier League manager is an all-encompassing one and the Chelsea boss, whose side sit top of the table, says there simply isn’t the time to cultivate a proper friendship.
“Relationships in football between managers, I don’t understand how and why,” said Mourinho.
“Especially how it is possible and when is it possible, because I see other managers 10 minutes before the game.
“I shake hands, I say hello. I see them sometimes after the game for a quick drink.
“I meet them once a season in some pre-season meeting or in some UEFA conference but basically we don’t have a relationship.
“Do I respect them? Yes, almost all of them, the big majority of them obviously I respect.
“But relation? Unless you had something in the past which connects you the relation is very short.”